WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:06.000 Story number fifteen of Dubliner's. This is a LibriVox recording. 2 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:09.039 All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more 3 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:13.839 information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording 4 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:20.879 by Hugh MacGuire. Dubliner's by James Joyce. Story fifteen, The 5 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:29.839 Dead Part one. Lily, the caretaker's daughter, was literally run 6 00:00:29.879 --> 00:00:34.079 off her feet. Hardly has she brought one gentleman into 7 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:36.840 the little pantry behind the office on the ground floor 8 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:40.000 and helped him off with his overcoat. Than the wheezy 9 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:43.600 hall door bell clanged again, and she had to scamper 10 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:47.560 along the bare hallway to let in another guest. It 11 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:49.719 was well for her. She had not to attend to 12 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:53.560 the ladies also, but Miss Kate and Miss Julia had 13 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:57.079 thought of that and had converted the bathroom upstairs into 14 00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:01.359 a ladies dressing room. Miss Kate and Miss Julia were there, 15 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:05.439 gossiping and laughing and fussing, walking after each other to 16 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:08.760 the head of the stairs, peering down over the banisters 17 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:12.159 and calling down to Lily to ask her who had come. 18 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.560 It was always a great affair the missus Morcan's annual dance. 19 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:20.760 Everybody who knew them, came to it. Members of the family, 20 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:24.319 old friends of the family, the members of Julia's choir, 21 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:27.719 any of Kate's pupils that were grown up enough, and 22 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:31.680 some of Mary Jane's pupils too. Never once had had 23 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:35.159 fallen flat. For years and years it had gone off 24 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:39.640 in splendid style as long as anyone could remember, ever 25 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:42.879 since Kate and Julia, after the death of their brother Pat, 26 00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:46.959 had left the house in Stony Batter and taken Mary Jane, 27 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:49.439 their only niece, to live with them in the dark 28 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:53.200 gaunt house on Usher's Island, the upper part of which 29 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:56.439 they had rented from mister Fulham, the corn factor on 30 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:00.400 the ground floor. That was a good thirty years years ago, 31 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:03.760 if it was a day. Mary Jane, who was then 32 00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:06.319 a little girl in short clothes, was now the main 33 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:10.080 prop of the household, for she had the organ in 34 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:14.520 Haddington Road, She had been through the Academy and gave 35 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:16.960 a pupils concert every year in the upper room of 36 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:22.120 the antient concert rooms. Many of her pupils belonged to 37 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:26.759 the better class families on the Kingstown and Dalkey line, 38 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:32.599 old as they were. Her aunts also did their share. Julia, 39 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:35.520 though she was quite gray, was still the leading soprano 40 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:38.680 in Adam and Eves, and Kate, being too feeble to 41 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:41.759 go about much, gave music lessons to beginners on the 42 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:46.719 old square piano in the back room. Lily, the caretaker's daughter, 43 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:51.439 did housemaids work for them. Though their life was modest, 44 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:56.759 they believed in eating well, the best of everything, diamond bone, 45 00:02:56.759 --> 00:03:02.520 Sirloin's three shilling tea and the best bottled stout. But 46 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:05.879 Lily seldom made a mistake in the orders, so that 47 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:09.400 she got on well with her three mistresses. They were fussy, 48 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:12.080 that was all. But the only thing they would not 49 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:16.800 stand was back answers. Of course, they had good reason 50 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:19.599 to be fussy on such a night, and then it 51 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:22.560 was long after ten o'clock, and yet there was no 52 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:26.159 sign of Gabrielle and his wife. Besides, they were dreadfully 53 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:30.439 afraid that Freddy Malins might turn up screwed. They would 54 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:34.120 not wish for worlds that any of Mary Jane's pupils 55 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:36.800 should see him under the influence, and when he was 56 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:40.479 like that, it was sometimes very hard to manage him. 57 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:44.159 Freddy Malins always came late, but they wondered what could 58 00:03:44.199 --> 00:03:48.280 be keeping Gabriel, and that was what brought them every 59 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:51.680 two minutes to the banisters to ask Lily, had Gabriel 60 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:56.319 or Freddy come? Oh, mister Conroy, said Lily to gabrielle 61 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:58.360 When she opened the door for him, Miss Kate and 62 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.919 Miss Julia thought you were never were coming. Good night, 63 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:07.000 Missus Conroy. I'll engage, they did, said Gabriel, But they 64 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:09.800 forget that my wife here takes three mortal hours to 65 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:14.000 dress herself. He stood on the mat, scraping the snow 66 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:17.160 from his galoshes, while Lily led his wife to the 67 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:21.120 foot of the stairs and called out, miss Kate, here's 68 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:27.000 Missus Conroy. Kate and Julia came toddling down the dark stairs. 69 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:31.439 At once both of them kissed. Gabriel's wife said she 70 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:36.000 must be perished alive, and asked, was Gabriel with her here? 71 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:38.600 I am right as the mail, Aunt Kate, go on up, 72 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.600 I'll follow, called out Gabriel from the dark. He continued 73 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:46.160 scraping his feet vigorously while the three women went upstairs, 74 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:50.519 laughing to the ladies dressing room. A light fringe of 75 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:53.519 snow lay like a cape on the shoulders of his overcoat, 76 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:56.839 and like toe caps on the toes of his galoshes, 77 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:00.920 and as the buttons of his overcoat boat slipped with 78 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:05.079 a squeaking noise through the snow stiffened frieze. A cold, 79 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:09.560 fragrant air from out of doors escaped from crevices and folds. 80 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:14.759 Is it snowing again? Mister Conroy asked Lily. She had 81 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:17.079 preceded him into the pantry to help him off with 82 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:21.680 his overcoat. Gabriel smiled at the three syllables she had 83 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:25.680 given his surname, and glanced at her. She was a slim, 84 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:31.199 growing girl, pale in complexion, with hay colored hair. The 85 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:35.279 gas in the pantry made her look still paler. Gabriel 86 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:37.279 had known her when she was a child and used 87 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:41.959 to sit on the lowest step nursing and ragged all. Yes, Lily, 88 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:44.120 he answered, and I think we're in for a night 89 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:48.079 of it. He looked up at the pantry ceiling, which 90 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.759 was shaking with the stamping and shuffling of feet on 91 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:53.800 the floor above, listened for a moment to the piano, 92 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:56.639 and then glanced at the girl who was folding his 93 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:02.040 overcoat carefully at the end of a shelf. Tell me, Lily, 94 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:04.800 he said, in a friendly tone. Do you still go 95 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:08.720 to school? Oh, no, sir, she answered, I'm done schooling 96 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:13.759 this year and more. Oh, then said Gabriel gaily, I 97 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:16.000 suppose we'll be going to your wedding one of these 98 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:20.319 fine days with your young man. Eh. The girl glanced 99 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:24.639 back at him over her shoulder and said, with great bitterness, 100 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:28.480 the men that is now is only all palaver and 101 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:33.720 what they can get out of you. Gabriel colored as 102 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:35.759 if he felt he had made a mistake, and without 103 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:38.600 looking at her, kicked off his gloshes and flicked actively 104 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:42.000 with his muffler and his pat leather shoes. He was 105 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:45.160 a stout, tallish young man. The high color of his 106 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:49.639 cheeks pushed upwards even to his forehead, where it scattered 107 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:53.279 itself in a few formless patches of pale red and 108 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:58.439 on his hairless face. There scintillated restlessly the polished lenses 109 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:01.480 and the bright gilt rims of the glasses which screened 110 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:06.120 his delicate and restless eyes. His glossy black hair was 111 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:09.120 parted in the middle and brushed in a long curve 112 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:11.920 behind his ears, where it curled slightly beneath the groove 113 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:16.360 left by his hat. When he had flicked luster into 114 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:19.560 his shoes. He stood up and pulled his waistcoat down 115 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:22.639 more tightly on his plump body. Then he took a 116 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:26.720 coin rapidly from his pocket. Oh, lily, he said, thrusting 117 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:29.199 it into her hands. It's Christmas time, isn't it. Er? 118 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:34.000 Just here's a little He walked rapidly towards the door. 119 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.319 Oh no, sir, cried the girl, following after him. Really, sir, 120 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:40.879 I wouldn't take it. Christmas time, Christmas time, said Gabriel, 121 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:43.639 almost trotting to the stairs and waving his hand to 122 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:48.079 her in depreciation. The girl, seeing that he had gained 123 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:51.079 the stairs, called out after him, well, thank you, sir. 124 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:57.040 He waited outside the drawing room until the waltz should finish, 125 00:07:57.199 --> 00:07:59.600 listening to the skirts that swept against it, and to 126 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:03.480 the shuffling of feet. He was still discomposed by the 127 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:06.879 girl's bitter and sudden retort. It had cast a gloom 128 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:09.279 over him, which he tried to dispel by arranging his 129 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:14.120 cuffs and the bows of his tie. He then took 130 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:17.319 from his waistcoat pocket a little paper and glanced at 131 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:20.480 the headings he had made for his speech. He was 132 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:24.040 undecided about the lines from Robert Browning, for he feared 133 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:27.319 they should be above the heads of his hearers. Some 134 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:31.600 quotation that they would recognize from Shakespeare or from the 135 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:36.399 melodies would be better. The indelicate clacking of men's heels 136 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:39.919 and shuffling of their souls reminded him that their grade 137 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.480 of culture differed from his. He would only make himself 138 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:47.080 ridiculous by quoting poetry to them which they could not understand. 139 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:50.960 They would think that he was airing his superior education. 140 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:54.120 He would fail with them, just as he had failed 141 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:57.039 with the girl in the pantry. He had taken up 142 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:59.960 a wrong tone. His whole speech was a mistake from them, 143 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:04.799 first to last, an utter failure. Just then, his aunts 144 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:07.080 and his wife came out of the ladies dressing room. 145 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:10.799 His aunts were two small, plainly dressed old women, and 146 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:13.960 Julia was an inch or so the taller. Her hair 147 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:16.919 drawn low over the top of her ears, was gray 148 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:21.840 and gray. Also with darker shadows was her large, flaccid face. 149 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:26.399 Though she was stout in build and stood erect, her 150 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:29.279 slow eyes and parted lips gave her the appearance of 151 00:09:29.320 --> 00:09:31.639 a woman who did not know where she was or 152 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:36.279 where she was going. Aunt Kate was more vivacious, her 153 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:40.919 face healthier than her sister's, was all puckers and creases 154 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:44.559 like a shriveled red apple, and her hair, braided in 155 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:47.519 the same old fashioned way, had not lost its ripe 156 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:53.679 nut color. They both kissed Gabriel frankly. He was their 157 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:57.679 favorite nephew, the son of their dead elder sister Ellen, 158 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:02.159 who had married T. J. Conroy of the Ports and Docks. 159 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:04.960 Gretta tells me you're not going to take a cab 160 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:10.399 back to Monkstown tonight, Gabriel said, Aunt Kate. No, said Gabriel, 161 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:12.519 turning to his wife. We had quite enough of that 162 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:15.799 last year, hadn't we. Don't you remember, Aunt Kate, what 163 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:19.799 a cold Gretta got out of it, cab windows rattling 164 00:10:19.799 --> 00:10:22.240 all the way, and the east wind blowing in after 165 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:27.480 we passed Marian. Very jolly it was. Greta caught a 166 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:32.679 dreadful cold. Aunt Kate frowned severely and nodded her head 167 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:37.519 at every word. Quite right, Gabriel, Quite right, she said, 168 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:41.720 you can't be too careful. But as for Greta, there, 169 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:44.600 said Gabriel. She'd walk home in the snow if she were. 170 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:50.200 Let missus Conroy laughed. Don't mind him, Aunt Kate, She said, 171 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:53.559 he's really an awful bother, what with green shades for 172 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:56.799 Tom's eyes at night, and making him do the dumb bells, 173 00:10:57.080 --> 00:11:00.759 and forcing Eva to eat the stir about the poor child, 174 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:04.159 and she simply hates the sight of it. Oh but 175 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:07.919 you'll never guess what he makes me wear now. She 176 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.720 broke out into a peal of laughter and glanced at 177 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:13.879 her husband, whose admiring and happy eyes had been wandering 178 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:16.639 from her dress to her face and hair. The two 179 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:21.120 aunts laughed heartily too, for Gabriel's solicitude was a standing 180 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:26.200 joke with them. Galoshes, said Missus Conroy, that's the latest. 181 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:30.960 Whenever it's wet underfoot, I must put on my goloshes tonight. 182 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.600 Even he wanted me to put them on, but I wouldn't. 183 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:36.320 The next thing you'll buy me will be a diving suit. 184 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:42.039 Gabriel laughed nervously and patted his tie reassuringly, while Aunt 185 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:45.480 Kate nearly doubled herself so heartily did she enjoy the joke. 186 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.519 The smile soon faded from Aunt Julia's face, and her 187 00:11:49.559 --> 00:11:53.960 mirthless eyes were directed towards her nephew's face. After a pause, 188 00:11:54.000 --> 00:12:02.000 she asked, and what our galoshes? Gabriel ushes Julia exclaimed, 189 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:05.039 your sister, goodness me, don't you know what goloshes are? 190 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:11.279 You wear them over? You're over your boots, Greta, isn't it? Yes, 191 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:15.440 said missus Conroy. Got a percha things. We both have 192 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:19.720 a pair now. Gabriel says, everyone wears them on the continent. Oh, 193 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:24.000 on the continent, murmured Aunt Julia, nodding her head slowly. 194 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:27.519 Gabriel knitted his brows and said, as if he were 195 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:31.080 slightly angered. It's nothing very wonderful. But Greta thinks it 196 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:34.240 is very funny because she says the word reminds her 197 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:39.759 of Christy minstrels. But tell me, Gabriel, said Aunt Kate, 198 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:43.759 with brisk tact. Of course, you've seen about the room. 199 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:47.759 Greta was saying, Oh, the room is all right, replied Gabriel. 200 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:51.679 I've taken one in Gresham, to be sure, said Aunt Kate. 201 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:54.480 By far the best thing to do. And the children, Greta, 202 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:58.600 you're not anxious about them, oh for one night, said 203 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:03.799 Missus Conroy. Besides, Bessie will look after them, to be sure, 204 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:06.679 said Aunt Kate again, what a comfort it is to 205 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.200 have a girl like that, one you can depend on. 206 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:12.440 There's that Lily. I'm sure I don't know what has 207 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:14.679 come over her lately. She's not the girl she was 208 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:18.200 at all. Gabriel was about to ask his aunt some 209 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:21.519 questions on this point, but she broke off suddenly to 210 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:25.200 gaze after her sister, who had wandered down the stairs 211 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:29.080 and was craning her neck over the banisters. Now I 212 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:34.279 ask you, she said, almost testily, where is Julia going, Julia, Julia, 213 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:38.519 where are you going? Julia, who had gone half way 214 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:43.519 down one flight, came back and announced, blandly, here's Freddy. 215 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:47.559 At the same moment, a clapping of hands and a 216 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:51.639 final flourish of the pianist told that the waltz had ended. 217 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:55.279 The drawing room door was opened from within, and some 218 00:13:55.320 --> 00:14:00.080 couples came out. Aunt Kate drew Gabriel aside hurriedly and 219 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:04.039 whispered into his ear. Slip down Gabriel like a good fellow, 220 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:06.200 and see if he's all right, and don't let him 221 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.960 off if he's screwed. I'm sure he's screwed. I'm sure 222 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:13.039 he is. Gabriel went to the stairs and listened over 223 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:16.559 the banisters. He could hear two persons talking in the pantry. 224 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:20.879 Then he recognized Freddy Mullins's laugh. He went down the 225 00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:25.080 stairs noisily. It's such a relief, said Aunt Kate to 226 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:29.159 missus Conroy that Gabriel is here. I always feel easier 227 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:32.519 in my mind when he's here. Julia, there's Miss Daly 228 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:36.360 and Miss Power. Will take some refreshments. Thanks for your 229 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:40.919 beautiful waltz, Miss Daly, it made lovely time. A tall, 230 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:44.919 wizen faced man with a stiff, grizzled mustache and swarthy skin, 231 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:49.080 who was passing out with his partner, said, and may 232 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:53.759 we have some refreshment too, Miss Morgan, Julia, said Aunt 233 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:58.840 Kate summarily. And here's mister Brown and Miss Furlong. Take 234 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:03.399 them in, Julia, with Miss Daly and miss Power. I'm 235 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.879 the man for the ladies, said mister Brown, pursing his 236 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:11.000 lips into his mustache, bristled and smiling in all his wrinkles. 237 00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:14.440 You know, Miss Morkan, the reason they are so fond 238 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:18.559 of me is he did not finish his sentence, but 239 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:21.360 seeing that Aunt Kate was out of earshot, at once 240 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:24.519 led the three young ladies into the back room. The 241 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:27.559 middle of the room was occupied by two square tables 242 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:30.639 placed end to end, and on these Aunt Julia and 243 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:34.919 the caretaker were straightening and smoothing a large cloth. On 244 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:38.159 the sideboard were arrayed dishes and plates and glasses, and 245 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:41.679 bundles of knives and forks and spoons. The top of 246 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:45.039 the closed square piano served also as a sideboard for 247 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:49.840 yans and sweets. At a smaller sideboard in one corner, 248 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:54.440 two young men were standing drinking hot bitters. Mister Brown 249 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:57.480 led his charges thither and invited them all in jest 250 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:02.919 to some lady's punch hot strong and sweet. As they 251 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:05.720 said they never took anything strong. He opened three bottles 252 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:08.279 of lemonade for them. Then he asked one of the 253 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.480 young men to move aside, and taking hold of the decanter, 254 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:16.039 filled out for himself a goodly measure of whisky. The 255 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:20.000 young man eyed him respectfully while he took a trial's sip. 256 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:23.960 God help me, he said, smiling, it's the doctor's orders. 257 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:28.480 His wizened face broke into a broader smile, and the 258 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:32.440 three young ladies laughed in a musical echo to his pleasantry, 259 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:35.919 swaying their bodies to and fro with nervous jerks of 260 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:40.200 their shoulders. The boldest said, oh, now, mister Brown, I'm 261 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:44.679 sure the doctrine never ordered anything of the kind. Mister 262 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:47.360 Brown took another sip of his whisky and said, with 263 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:52.759 sidling mimicry. Well, you see, I'm like the famous Missus Cassidy, 264 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:56.000 who's reported to have said, now, Merry Grimes, if I 265 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:58.440 don't take it, make me take it, for I feel 266 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:02.679 I want it. His hot face had leaned forward a 267 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:06.160 little too confidently, and he had assumed a very low 268 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:10.440 dublin accent, so that the young ladies, with one instinct, 269 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:15.240 received his speech in silence. Miss Furlong, who is one 270 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:18.480 of Mary Jane's pupils, asked Miss Daly what was the 271 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:22.000 name of the pretty waltz she had played, and mister Brown, 272 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:24.880 seeing that he was ignored, turned promptly to the two 273 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:29.480 young men who were more appreciative. A red faced young 274 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:33.319 woman dressed in pansy came into the room excitedly, clapping 275 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:38.079 her hands and crying, quadrilles, quadrilles. Close on her heels 276 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:43.559 came Aunt Kate, crying. Two gentlemen and three ladies Mary Jane, Oh, 277 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:48.319 here's mister Burgan and mister Kerrigan, said Mary Jane. Mister Kerrigan, 278 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:51.200 will you take miss Power, Miss Furlong, May I get 279 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:54.160 you a partner mister Burgan. Oh that'll just do now, 280 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:59.000 three ladies, Mary Jane, said Aunt Kate. The two young 281 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:01.200 gentlemen asked the lady as if they might have the pleasure, 282 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:04.599 and Mary Jane turned to Miss Daly. Oh, Miss Daly, 283 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:07.960 you're really awfully good after playing for the last two dances. 284 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:11.599 But really we're so short of ladies tonight. I don't 285 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:15.759 mind in the least Miss Morgan, but I've a nice 286 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:19.839 partner for you, mister Bartell Darcy the tenor. I'll get 287 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:22.839 him to sing later on All Dublin is raving about him. 288 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:27.799 Lovely voice, lovely voice, said Aunt Kate. As the piano 289 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:31.119 had twice begun the prelude to the first figure. Mary 290 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:34.680 Jane led her recruits quickly from the room. They had 291 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:37.799 hardly gone when Aunt Julia wandered slowly into the room, 292 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:41.920 looking behind her at something. What is the matter, Julia 293 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:47.759 asked Aunt Kate anxiously. Who is it? Julia, who was 294 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:50.839 carrying in a column of table napkins, turned to her 295 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:54.240 sister and said simply, as if the question had surprised her. 296 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:59.920 It's only Freddy Kate and Gabriel with him. In fact, 297 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:04.079 right behind her, Gabriel could be seen piloting Freddy Malins 298 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:07.880 across the landing. The latter, a young man of about forty, 299 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:11.640 was of Gabriel's size and build, with very round shoulders. 300 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:16.240 His face was fleshy and pallid, touched with color only 301 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:19.079 at the thick hanging lobes of his ears and at 302 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:22.240 the wide wings of his nose. He had coarse features, 303 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:25.839 a blunt nose, a convex and receding brow, tumid and 304 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:30.319 protruded lips, His heavy lidded eyes, and the disorder of 305 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:34.279 his scanty hair made him look sleepy. He was laughing 306 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:37.400 heartily in the high key at a story which he 307 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:40.640 had been telling Gabriel on the stairs, and at the 308 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:43.720 same time rubbing the knuckles of his left fist backwards 309 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:47.759 and forwards into his left eye. Good evening, Freddy, said, 310 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:52.759 Aunt Julia. Freddy Malins bade the Missus Morcan good evening 311 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:55.759 in what seemed an offhand fashion by reason of the 312 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:59.440 habitual catch in his voice, and then seeing that mister Brown, 313 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:02.519 was grin at him from the sideboard, crossed the room 314 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:05.799 on rather shaky legs, and began to repeat in an 315 00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:09.920 undertone the story he had just told Gabriel. He's not 316 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:14.200 so bad as he said, Aunt Kate to Gabriel. Gabriel's 317 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:16.960 brows were dark, but he raised them quickly and answered, 318 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:22.960 oh no, hardly noticeable. Now, isn't he a terrible fellow? 319 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:25.759 She said, and his poor mother made him take the 320 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:28.559 pledge on New Year's Eve. But come on, Gabriel into 321 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:33.200 the drawing room. Before leaving the room with Gabriel, she 322 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:36.880 signaled to mister Brown by frowning and shaking her forefinger 323 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:40.480 and warning to and fro. Mister Brown nodded in answer, 324 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:44.200 and when she had gone, said to Freddy Malins, now, then, Teddy, 325 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:46.359 I'm going to fill you out a good glass of lemonade, 326 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:50.599 just to buck you up. Freddy Malins, who was nearing 327 00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:54.039 the climax of his story, waved the offer aside impatiently, 328 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:57.839 but mister Brown, having first called Freddy Malins's attention to 329 00:20:57.880 --> 00:21:01.160 a disarray in his dress, philed out and handed him 330 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:06.359 a glass full of lemonade. Freddy Malins's left hand accepted 331 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:10.160 the glass mechanically, his right hand being engaged in the 332 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:14.440 mechanical readjustment of his dress. Mister Brown, whose face was 333 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:17.839 once more wrinkled with mirth, poured out for himself a 334 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:21.519 glass of whisky, while Freddy Malins exploded before he had 335 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:24.359 well reached the climax of his story in a kink 336 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:28.960 of high pitched, bronchitic laughter, and setting down his untasted 337 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:32.400 and overflowing glass, began to rub the knuckles of his 338 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:35.759 left fists backwards and forwards into his left eye, repeating 339 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:38.240 words of his last phrase as well as his fit 340 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:42.640 of laughter would allow him. Gabriel could not listen while 341 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:46.160 Mary Jane was playing her academy piece full of runs 342 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:50.960 and difficult passages to the hushed drawing room. He liked music, 343 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.559 but the piece she was playing had no melody for him, 344 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:55.920 and he doubted whether it had any malady for the 345 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:59.640 other listeners, though they had begged Mary Jane to play something. 346 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:03.400 Four young men who had come from the refreshment room 347 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:05.599 to stand in the doorway at the sound of the 348 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:09.319 piano had gone away quietly in couples. After a few minutes. 349 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:12.680 The only persons who seemed to follow the music were 350 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:16.240 Mary Jane herself, her hands racing along the keyboard or 351 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:19.119 lifted from it at the pauses like those of a 352 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:24.720 priestess in momentary impreciation, and Aunt Kate standing at her 353 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:30.640 elbow to turn the page. Gabriel's eyes, irritated by the 354 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:35.240 floor which glittered with beeswax under the heavy chandelier, wandered 355 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:38.160 to the wall above the piano. A picture of the 356 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:41.400 balcony scene in Romeo and Juliette hung there, and beside 357 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:43.799 it was a picture of the two murdered princes in 358 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:47.440 the Tower, which Aunt Julia had worked in red, blue 359 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:51.279 and brown woolves when she was a girl, probably in 360 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:53.519 the school they had gone to. His girls that kind 361 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:57.440 of work had been taught for one year. His mother 362 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:00.960 had worked for him as a birthday present, waistcoat of 363 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:05.119 purple tabinet with little foxes heads upon it, lined with 364 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:10.240 brown satin, and having round mulberry buttons. It was strange 365 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:12.920 that his mother had no musical talent, though Aunt Kate 366 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:15.839 used to call her the brains carrier of the Morkan family. 367 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:19.839 Both she and Julia had always seemed a little proud 368 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:24.880 of their serious and matronly sister. Her photographs stood before 369 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:28.319 the pier glass. She held an open book on her 370 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:31.559 knee and was pointing out something in it to Constantine, 371 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:34.839 who dressed in a man O war suit, lay at 372 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:38.200 her feet. It was she who had chosen the name 373 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:41.240 of her sons, for she was very sensible of the 374 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:45.759 dignity of family life. Thanks to her, Constantine was now 375 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:50.559 senior Curate in Balbrigan, and thanks to her, Gabriel himself 376 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:54.799 had taken his degree in the Royal University. A shadow 377 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:58.440 passed over his face as he remembered her sullen opposition 378 00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:03.319 to his marriage. Some slighting phrases she had used still 379 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:06.400 rankled in his memory. She had once spoken of Greta 380 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:09.880 as being country cute, and that was not true of 381 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:12.759 Greta at all. It was Greta who had nursed her 382 00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:16.920 during all her last long illness in their house in Monkstown. 383 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:19.960 He knew that Mary Jane must be near the end 384 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:23.039 of her piece, for she was playing again the opening melody, 385 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:27.079 with runs of scales after every bar, and while he 386 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:32.279 waited for the end, the resentment died down in his heart. 387 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:35.960 The piece ended with a trill of octaves in the treble, 388 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:41.799 and finally a deep octave in the bass. Great applause 389 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:45.680 greeted Mary Jane As, blushing and rolling up her music nervously, 390 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:50.640 she escaped from the room. The most vigorous clapping came 391 00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:53.160 from the four young men in the doorway, who had 392 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:55.480 gone away to the refreshment room at the beginning of 393 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:58.079 the piece, but had come back when the piano had stopped. 394 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:04.400 Lance were arranged. Gabriel found himself partnered with Miss Ivers. 395 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:08.039 She was a frank mannered, talkative young lady with a 396 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:11.599 freckled face and prominent brown eyes. She did not wear 397 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:15.279 a low cut bodice in the large brooch which was 398 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:18.039 fixed in the front of her collar, born Irish device 399 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:22.440 and motto. When they had taken their places, she said abruptly, 400 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:25.200 I have a crow to pluck with you. With me, 401 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:29.519